Sanitizing and cleaning system for fingers

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for cleaning or sanitizing a finger. A container has an interior sized to receive a finger, the container having a bottom portion and a wall portion extending from the bottom portion to an opening along an edge of the wall portion through which the finger may be received. The wall portion and bottom portion each have an interior surface within the container. A plurality of bristles extend from an interior surface of the container for contact with a portion of the finger when liquid is in the container.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to US Provisional Patent applicationSer. No. 62/167,407 filed May 28, 2015 and US Provisional Patentapplication Ser. No. 62/198,294 filed Jul. 29, 2015. This application isrelated to PCT/US15/64631 filed Dec. 9, 2015 which is incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD

The present invention concerns cleaning and sanitizing and, morespecifically, relates to systems and methods that provide fast andconvenient cleaning or sanitizing of fingers, including fingernails.

BACKGROUND

As application PCT/US15/64631 notes, in recent years there has been anincreased social expectation to limit communication of diseases throughuse of gloves, washing of hands and use of hand sanitizing liquids.These are prevalent in many interactions which might expose persons tocontagious diseases. Although concerns about the spread of infectionclearly extend beyond occupational activities, it is widely recognizedthat contact with persons providing health care and food handlingservices can be a major pathway to the spread of disease. Even casualhand contact with the skin or clothing of another person may lead todeposit of infectious material in crevices along the fingers that couldpose health risks.

While it is recognized that application of sanitizing liquids on thesurface of the hands can have a germicidal effect, simple rubbing of asanitizing liquid on the hands is not a totally effective means forremoving bacteria from crevice regions of the same hands. Liquidsanitizers require time to apply the liquid, complete the sanitizingprocess and sometimes remove residual material. There has not been afast and convenient way of sanitizing portions of the hands whichcontain significant crevices. Because these areas do not readily orreliably receive the beneficial effects resulting from the simple rub-onapplication of sanitizing liquid to the skin, they are more prone tocollect debris and provide moist environments to sustain bacterialgrowth.

Also, existing application methods do not assure deep penetration of theliquid into regions such as crevices along fingernails, to guaranteethat the sanitizing liquid is one hundred percent effective.

There is a need for a portable system which is quick and easy to utilizefor thorough cleaning or sanitizing of the fingers, includingfingernails. The ideal system will reduce infections and the spread ofgerms. The system may be reusable, but disposable embodiments of thesystem can further assure isolation of contagious pathogens.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one series of embodiment a system is provided for cleaning orsanitizing a finger or a region about a fingernail. A container forholding liquid, has an interior sized to receive a finger. The containerhas a bottom portion and a wall portion for containing liquid. The wallportion extends from the bottom portion to an opening along an edge ofthe wall portion through which opening a finger may be received into thecontainer. The wall portion has opposing exterior and interior wallsurfaces. A majority or the entirety of the interior wall surfaceextends along the exterior surface. The bottom portion has opposingexterior and interior bottom surfaces. The interior bottom surface facesthe container interior. The container includes a plurality of bristlesextending from one or both interior surfaces of the container forcontact with a portion of a finger inserted in the container. The systemmay include a removable lid positioned against the edge of the wallportion to seal the opening and keep liquid placed in the containerprior to use of the system for cleaning or sanitizing. The heights ofbristles may vary considerably. An exemplary range applicable to theillustrated patterns is from about 3 mm to 1 cm. The widths or diametersof the bristles may vary from 0.08 mm to 0.16 mm. The bristles have anelongate height relative to bristle width or diameter. The ratio ofheight to width or height to diameter may, for example, range from lessthan 37 to more than 125. Bristles of differing heights and widths (ordiameters) may be mixed in patterns and multiple patterns of bristlesmay be formed along the interior wall and bottom surfaces, e.g., toprovide a user with a variety of bristle cleaning surfaces.

In another series of embodiments, a system is provided for cleaning orsanitizing a finger or a region about a fingernail, including acontainer for holding liquid, the container having an interior sized toreceive a finger. The container has a bottom portion and a wall portionfor containing liquid. The wall portion extends from the bottom portionto an opening along an edge of the wall portion through which a fingermay be received into the container. The container has an upper interiorsurface along the wall portion and a lower interior surface along thebottom portion. The container includes a first group of bristlesextending upward from the lower interior surface toward the containeropening for contact with a portion of a finger positioned within thecontainer. The container may further include a second group of bristlesextending from the upper interior surface for contact with a portion ofa finger. The container may be axially symmetric between the bottomportion and the opening with bristles in the second group extending fromthe upper interior surface toward a central axis of symmetry. The edgeof the wall portion may be a sealing lip, with the system including aremovable seal lid bonded to the sealing lip to keep liquid placed inthe container prior to use of the system for cleaning or sanitizing. Thebond between the seal lid and the sealing lip may be effected withapplication of an adhesive, a heating process, or welding.

In another series of embodiments a method is provided for cleaning orsanitizing fingers, including positioning a finger along an interiorsurface of a container filled with fluid. A portion of the finger ismoved along a series of varying bristle patterns immersed in the fluidto clean or sanitize the finger portion with the fluid. The step ofmoving a portion of the finger may be performed with bristles mountedalong a bottom surface of the container.

In still another series of embodiments a method for cleaning orsanitizing fingers with a portable container includes providing asealed, portable container holding a liquid suitable for sanitizing orcleaning fingers. A seal is peeled off an opening of the container toexpose an interior surface containing one or more patterns of bristles.A finger is inserted through the opening to contact a portion of thebristles. A portion of the finger is rubbed against the bristles toclean or sanitize a region about a finger nail or other portion of thefinger. The finger may contact bristles along a bottom surface in thecontainer to clean or sanitize a fingertip. The method may includesequentially inserting multiple fingers through the opening for cleaningor sanitizing with a rubbing action along the bristles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The following drawings are provided to facilitate understanding ofconcepts and designs presented in the written description which follows,where:

FIG. 1 provides an elevation view of a disposable system for nail andfinger sanitizing or cleaning according to an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a partial view in cross section of a container of thedisposable system shown in FIG. 1 illustrating features along aninterior wall surface and an interior bottom surface of the container;

FIG. 3A is a plan view of the container shown in FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of a portion of the container shown inFIGS. 2 and 3A, illustrating a series of bristles formed in an exemplarypattern along an interior bottom surface of the container;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container with an opaque seal lidpositioned over an opening of the container;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the container showing side bristlesalong an interior wall surface of the container; and

FIG. 6 is an unrolled view of a series of side bristles arranged in rowand columns and further illustrates exemplary bristle patterns in a sideview of the bristles;

FIG. 7 is an unrolled view of a series of side bristles arranged in rowsand alternately staggered columns along a vertical direction and furtherillustrates exemplary bristle patterns in a side view of the bristlesfor this arrangement; and

FIGS. 8A through 8C are side views of bristle patterns illustratingexemplary profiles for three shapes of bristle ends.

Like reference numbers are used throughout the figures to denote likecomponents. Components may be schematically illustrated, and variousdetails, connections and components of an apparent nature may not beshown in order to emphasize details of other components. Orientations ofthe disposable system are shown with respect to a horizontal groundplane. Orientations of components of the system are at times describedwith reference to vertical and horizontal orthogonal directions, wherevertical directions are parallel to a vertical axis of the illustratedcontainer. Various features shown in the figures are not drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention incorporate bristles, generally understoodto mean projections suitable for scrubbing or cleaning along a surface.The term bristle generally refers to such a structure extending awayfrom a surface, having an elongate height relative to a bristle width ordiameter. Bristle height refers to the dimension measurable along adirection in which the bristle extends away from the surface to which afirst end is fixed. The bristle terminates at a second end, opposing thefirst end, positioned for making cleaning contact with a surface of afinger. Being elongate, the bristle height is relatively large comparedto a width dimension or diameter of the bristle. In this context ofcleaning with a scrubbing or agitating action, bristle refers to anyflexible and resilient structure that can perform such a function, andis not at all limited to conventional shapes or materials. For example,bristles incorporated in embodiments of the invention may havecylindrically shaped walls and flat ends for cleaning or scrubbingcontact. These and other elongate shapes may also taper (e.g., to bepointed or rounded) at the second end which makes contact with a surfacefor cleaning, to facilitate making contact within small grooves or otherfeatures along the surface of a finger. It is well known to fabricatebristles of nylon (e.g., for toothbrushes) and other polymers (e.g., forhair brushes). Choices of size, shape and material may be based on adesired type of cleaning action. Depending on whether the desiredcleaning action is to be relatively hard or soft, bristles could be maderelatively stiff or supple (e.g., resilient) so as not to have a harshor irritating effect on the skin surface.

In numerous embodiments of the cleaning system, a series of spaced apartbristles is arranged in an array of rows and columns or concentricshapes. Bristle height, width or diameter, shape or composition may varyfrom row to row to provide preferred combinations of features. Exemplaryspacings between adjacent bristles in an array may vary with the widthor diameter of the bristles. For an exemplary bristle diameter rangingfrom about 0.08 mm ( 1/32 in) to 0.16 mm ( 1/16 in), the spacingsbetween bristles may range from 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm.

FIG. 1 provides an elevation view of a disposable system 10 for nail andfinger sanitizing or cleaning according to one embodiment. The systemcomprises a sealed container 14 which holds a quantity of sanitizingand/or cleaning liquid 16 for application on demand. The term liquid asused herein includes any kind of liquid generally, including gels, andspecifically includes liquids having cleaning properties (e.g.,solvents), moisturizers, materials having disinfecting or antisepticproperties and other fluids.

The container 14 includes a bottom 20 and a wall 22 which extends upwardfrom the bottom along a vertical axis, A, with respect to a horizontalground plane, H, to an opening 24. The opening is bounded by a rim,referred to as a sealing lip 26, along an edge 28 of the wall 22. See,also, FIG. 2 . A seal lid 30, shown in FIG. 1 , is bonded to the sealinglip 26 to form a closed vessel with the container 14 and prevent loss ofliquid 16 placed therein when the axis is not vertical with respect tothe horizontal ground plane. The bond between the seal lid 30 and thesealing lip 26 may be effected with application of an adhesive,pressure, via a heating process, by welding, or with another well-knowntechnique.

The container 14, having an exemplary tapered shape along the verticalaxis, may be sized for convenience and portability. For example, thecontainer may have an overall container height of 5 to 6 cm and anoutside diameter of 2.5 to 3 cm about the sealing lip 26. The exemplaryheight is based on sanitizing or cleaning only the portion of a fingerextending from the fingertip to the second joint in the longest fingerof a user, but in other embodiments, the container height may be sizedto receive substantially the entire length of a finger, e.g., 9 to 12cm. As shown for the illustrated embodiment, the outside diameter of thecontainer may diminish from the selected maximum outside diameter(providing a relatively wide opening near the sealing lip) to a minimumdiameter near the bottom 20, with the interior diameter diminishing fromthe sealing lip 26 to the bottom 20 by, for example, 0.5 to 1 cm. Inother embodiments, a series of containers may be provided for multiplesystems where the sizes of the containers vary based on finger size(e.g., length, width, or circumference about the finger), in a manneranalogous to the way numerous glove sizes provide appropriate fits forhands of differing dimensions, and so a user can avoid having to carry alarger size system 10 than is needed. The illustrated shape of thecontainer 14 is shown to be symmetrical about the axis, A, (e.g., amodification to a straight cylindrical body where the radius from thecentral axis varies as a function of position along the axis). Thecontainer may have any of numerous other functional or artistic shapeswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

The seal lid 30 is a relatively thin flexible layer (e.g., in the rangeof 30 to 50 microns) serving as a moisture impervious membrane. The seallid material may comprise a metallic foil (e.g., aluminum), a polymersheet or a cellulose product such as a coated paper or a cellophaneproduct. With the seal lid 30 bonded to the sealing lip 26 of thecontainer 14, the liquid 16 remains in the container until use of thesystem 10 is initiated by, for example, peeling of the seal lid 30 awayfrom the sealing lip 26 or breaking of the seal lid by penetration. Theseal lid 30 may be designed to be penetrated by application of a forcewith the tip of a finger. The seal lid may, as shown in the figures,have a pull tab 34 for removal. Once the seal lid is broken or removed,a user may dip a portion of a finger into the container 14 to immersethe finger portion into the liquid 16.

The container has an exterior wall surface 32 and an exterior bottomsurface 33, each facing away from the container, an interior wallsurface 36 and an interior bottom surface 38. The majority or entiretyof the interior wall surface 36 follows the contour of the exterior wallsurface 32. The interior bottom surface 38 may be substantially parallelwith the bottom surface or may be contoured to receive the shape of thetip of a finger.

FIG. 2 is a partial view of the container 14 with the seal lid removed.The view is taken along a plane which resides in the axis, A, toillustrate features along the interior wall surface 36 and the interiorbottom surface 38 of the container. Brush-like members, generallyreferred to herein as bristles 40 extend from the interior surfaces 36,38. Exemplary patterns of the bristles are shown in FIGS. 2, 6, 7 and 8. A series of side bristles 40 s extend from portions of the interiorwall surface 36 toward diametrically opposite portions of the interiorwall surface. In one series of embodiments, the bristles may extendtoward the axis, A. A series of bottom bristles 40 b extend from theinterior bottom surface 38 toward the opening 24. FIG. 3A is a view ofthe container 14 with the seal lid absent. The view is taken from abovethe sealing lip 26 and along the axis, A, to further illustrateexemplary patterns of the side and bottom bristles 40 s, 40 b. FIG. 3Bprovides further views of the bottom bristles 40 b, illustrating anexemplary pattern having vertical bristles 40 b arranged in uniform rowsand columns perpendicular to one another along the interior bottomsurface. The bristles 40 s formed along the interior wall surface 36 maybe similar in size and shape to the bristles 40 b shown along theinterior bottom surface 38. FIG. 4 provides a perspective view of thecontainer 14 with an opaque seal lid 30 (e.g., formed with a layer ofaluminum foil) bonded to the sealing lip 26.

Referring again to FIG. 2 , side bristles 40 s, positioned along theinner surface 36 of the container wall 22, are sized to provide forscrubbing of the nail plate including the lunula, the cuticle, the nailfold and other portions of the finger with the liquid. Bottom bristles40 b positioned along the interior bottom surface 38 are sized tofacilitate scrubbing the hyponychium and, generally, regions of thefingernail adjoining the fingertip.

FIGS. 6 and 7 provide unrolled interior views of the container shown inFIG. 2 . The unrolled view of FIG. 6 illustrates a series of sidebristles 40 s arranged in row and columns along the interior wallsurface 36. The lower portion of FIG. 6 also illustrates a side view ofthree series of bristles to illustrate exemplary bristle patterns 42,44, 46 based on exemplary bristle height variations from row to row orfrom column to column in the array. The illustration aligns individualbristles with vertical columns, but the patterns also apply to bristlesalong different horizontal rows in each matrix of row and columns. Theinset view 58 of FIG. 6 provides a side view of bristles 40 s along acolumn, again illustrating the alternating bristle height pattern 44 forbristles along a vertical column.

The exemplary bristle shapes and patterns 42, 44, 46 shown in thefigures for side bristles 40 s are also exemplary of bristle shapes andpatterns for bottom bristles 40 b. The example patterns 42, 44, 46illustrate bristles of three height variations: low height bristles 40L,medium height bristles 40M and tall height bristles 40T. The firstpattern 42 is an alternating sequence of bristles 40T and 40L. Thesecond pattern 44 is a uniform sequence of bristles having the sameheight 40M. The third pattern is a sequence having a saw tootharrangement with bristle height varying as 40L, 40M, 40T, 40M, 40L, 40M,40T, 40M,etc. FIG. 7 illustrates an array pattern of rows and columns inwhich bristles in adjacent columns are staggered with respect to oneanother in the vertical direction. The inset view 60 of FIG. 7 providesa side view of bristles in two adjacent columns, with bristles in thesame column following the first pattern 42 of bristle heights.

FIGS. 8A through 8C are side views of three series of bristle patternsillustrating profiles for three exemplary shapes of bristle ends 50which come into contact with finger surfaces. The ends 50 ofcylindrically shaped bristles shown in FIG. 8A are flat. The ends 50 ofbristles shown in FIG. 8B are pointed, and the ends 50 of bristles shownin FIG. 8C are rounded.

Generally, groups of bristles may be formed in patterns where bristlefeatures, such as height, width and stiffness, vary from pattern topattern or from bristle to bristle in rows or columns. These patternsprovide for a variety of scrubbing characteristics or enablesimultaneous contact by bristles against adjoining surfaces of contours,e.g., portions of finger surfaces having crevices or grooves.

The exemplary container 14 shown in the figures is in the shape of a cuphaving radial symmetry about the vertical axis, A. FIG. 5 is aperspective view of the container 14 at an angle of about 25 degreeswith respect to the vertical axis, A, showing side bristles 40 s alongthe interior wall surface 36 of the container.

FIG. 6 is another partial perspective view of the container 14 takenalong the axis, A, illustrating rows of bottom bristles 40 b having anexemplary cylindrical bristle shapes. The container bottom surface 38may be flat, convex or concave as to provide greater effectiveness whenimparting a rocking or scrubbing motion for a part of a finger, e.g., afingernail. The container shape may also be optimized for convenience ofstorage (e.g., in a pocket), packing and shipping. The bristles 40 s, 40b may be made of different materials (e.g., a thermo plastic, such as anylon used for bristles of a toothbrush) or plastic used in anintegrated molding process (which forms the bristles as part of thecontainer wall or bottom). The bristles 40 may be formed of othermaterials (e.g., natural fibers and metals). The bristles 40 may befoimed in discrete layers, each layer being a portion of an interiorsurface 36 or 38 of the container 14, each layer containing an array ofbristles. The bristles may be formed as discrete members, each appliedto an interior surface to form one or more patterns after the wall 22 orbottom 20 is formed. In other embodiments, patterns of bristles mayinclude bristles of varied size to better effect scrubbing. For example,the height in a series of bristles (relative to the interior surfacefrom which the bristles extend) may vary from relatively short torelatively tall heights (e.g., to 0.5 mm in height along the interiorwall surface 36 and to 1.0 mm in height along the interior bottomsurface 38). For a given height, the bristles may have a variety oflengths and widths or diameters. The terms length, width and diameter asapplied to a bristle 40 refer to dimensions in directions perpendicularto the direction along which the bristle height is measured, or along adirection of the interior surface from which the bristle extends. Thelengths, widths or diameters of the bristles may, for example, rangefrom 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm and may be of cylindrical shapes as shown in FIGS.3B and 6 . Moreover, the lengths in a series of bristles may varymonotonically from relatively short to relatively long as a function ofposition along the interior surfaces 36, 38 of the wall 22 or the bottom20, so the user may select a region along a surface having optimalbristle characteristics (e.g., stiffness, height, diameter, etc.) forscrubbing a particular region of the finger. In other embodiments thebristle length may vary so that bristles of different heights are mixedin a continual pattern to allow short and long bristles tosimultaneously contact surface contours created by adjoining regions.

I have described a disposable fingernail and finger sanitizing andcleaning system which enables a rapid, easily utilized method ofcleaning and sanitizing beneath fingernails and along portions offingers. An embodiment of the related method includes opening thecontainer by piercing or removing the seal lid, penetrating a fingerinto a liquid contained therein and scrubbing the finger parts againstbristles formed along inner surfaces of the container. In otherembodiments a re-usable fingernail and finger sanitizing and cleaningsystem is provided. The re-usable system comprises a lid seal in theform of a cap or a stopper. In lieu of bonding a lid seal to a sealinglip 26, a flip cap may be attached at a hinge point to the container toselectively expose the opening for extension of a finger into liquidwithin the container. There may be a seal at the interface between thecap and the sealing lip 26 to prevent leakage of cleaning or sanitizingliquid from the container.

A feature of the disclosed embodiments is provision of a containercomprising bristles along an interior wall surface and an interiorbottom surface where the bristles 40 s along the wall surface extendonly a limited distance toward the axis, A. This leaves an open region54 along the axis, A. The region 54 may be of variable width as shown inFIG. 2 , between ends 50 of opposing wall bristles. For example, withthe height of the container 14, as measured along the axis, A, rangingbetween 4.5 cm and 7 cm, the container opening 24 may range between 2.5cm and 3 cm, a maximum width of the region 54. A minimum width of theregion 54, along the interior bottom surface 38, corresponds to the areaoccupied by the bottom bristles 40 b, e.g., a circular region having adiameter of about 2.6 cm or one inch. For the illustrated embodiment,the minimum width (or diameter) of the region 54 along the area occupiedby the bottom bristles is the diameter of the circular area. This areaoccupied by the bottom bristles is sufficiently large to permit lateralmovement of a fingertip along the bottom bristles for effectivescrubbing movement against the bristles 40 b. The array of bristles 40 bshown in FIG. 3A may have other shapes such as, for example, a squarepattern having side dimensions of 2.6 cm. The invention providespersonnel with a disposable and portable method of sanitizing andcleaning fingers and nails to aid in cleanliness, skin treatment (e.g.,moisturizing), and reducing healthcare-related spread of infections suchas MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus). The invention isgenerally useful to advance sanitary conditions by cleaning orsanitizing regions beneath a person's fingernails and other regions ofthe fingers. The illustrated embodiment of a disposable Nail and FingerSanitizer and Cleaner may also be used for industrial and commercialenvironments, including the food service industry and in households orliving quarters for normal cleaning and sanitary use. The system isespecially useful for medical staff and can benefit young children forwhich nail file tips are painful and possibly detrimental tofingernails.

1-14. (canceled).
 15. A method of cleaning or sanitizing fingerscomprising: positioning a finger along an interior surface of acontainer filled with fluid; moving a portion of the finger along aseries of varying bristle patterns immersed in the fluid to clean orsanitize the finger portion with the fluid.
 16. The method of claim 15where the step of moving a portion of the finger along a series ofbristles is performed with bristles mounted along a bottom surface ofthe container.
 17. The method of claim 15 where the step of moving aportion of the finger along a series of bristles is performed withbristles mounted along a wall surface of the container.
 18. A method forcleaning or sanitizing fingers with a portable container, comprising:providing a sealed, portable container holding a liquid suitable forsanitizing or cleaning fingers; peeling a seal from along an opening toexpose one or more patterns of bristles along an interior surface of thecontainer; inserting a finger through the opening to contact a portionof the bristles; and rubbing a portion of the finger against thebristles to clean or sanitize a region about a finger nail or otherportion of the finger.
 19. The method of claim 18 where the fingercontacts bristles along a bottom surface in the container to clean orsanitize a fingertip.
 20. The method of claim 18 including sequentiallyinserting multiple fingers through the opening for cleaning orsanitizing with a rubbing action along the bristles.